10 hidden gems from CES 2016

Onagofly is a lightweight (140 grams), palm-sized quadcopter with some features that you won’t find in other drones that cost five times as much.Hitesh Raj Bhagat | ET Bureau | January 13, 2016, 07:56 IST

While the Boogie Board itself is not new, the company showcased a couple of new designs. In case you’re unfamiliar, Boogie Board makes digital writing pads — you can hang them up anywhere (like on a fridge) and write/draw/scribble on them. The slate is wiped clean at the press of a button and they can be re-used hundreds and thousands of times — drastically reducing paper use in homes and offices.

These two new designs (Scribble n’ Play & Jot 4.5) are aimed at the children in the house. The Scribble n’ Play has, for the first time, a display that shows colour. It has four large, easy-to-grip writing/drawing ‘pens’ clipped onto the four corners. The smaller Jot 4.5 has a translucent screen and comes with a bunch of flash cards that can be inserted in a slot behind the screen — to help kids learn simple subjects.

SMARTHALO

Using a smartphone while on two wheels is a lot riskier than while driving. Smarthalo is a device that can convert any bicycle into a smartcycle. It clamps into the handlebar and can show you useful information like driving directions or notify you of incoming calls/SMS using a ring of multicolour LEDs.It is meant to be left on the bike permanently (except while charging) and the company says that the military – grade locking mechanism prevents theft. The SmartHalo app will guide you around and send the appropriate signal to the device to show you where to turn. It can also remind you where you parked your bike, track your fitness/distance and export data to third-party apps like Strava, Apple Health Kit or Google Fitness. As if that wasn’t enough, it has motion activated anti-theft and white LEDs to light the way ahead..

360 FLY

There’s a solid reason why action cameras are so popular: they’re rugged, have a wide field of view and help you document/share your adventures. GoPro has a majority of the premium market in the bag but there’s one thing they’re missing: 360 degree video. Panoramic video itself is not new and there are also dual 180-degree lens cameras like the Ricoh Theta that can capture panoramic video.

360 Fly is a single camera that can capture 360-degree video with a single lens. It can be used as a standalone camera (on a tripod, selfie stick or in your hand) or mounted on a helmet, handlebar or vehicle. It’s waterproof without needing a housing and has built in WiFi + Bluetooth. You can use the app on your phone to preview live video, edit video and share. It weighs only 138 grams and the built in rechargeable battery is good for about 2 hours of use.

FLAP IT

You may have heard of split-flap displays or at least seen one without knowing what it was called. Before LED signage and full colour displays became common, these ‘flipping’ displays were often sighted at airports and train stations, displaying names, destinations and time tables. In essence, the display is mechanical and it uses a rolling set of flaps to form letters and numbers. Flapit is a split-flap display that is built to better connect a small business to its customers. The device itself is solidly built yet charmingly retro. It is wireless – so you can control it using a webapp on a computer or mobile device. It weighs about 3kg, is 58cm wide, can be placed anywhere for maximum visibility and is the first physical counter that is preconnected to all major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram etc).

You can use it to display a live view of how many Facebook likes your page have, how many Twitter followers, YouTube views and so on. The company suggests using it in brick and mortar retailers, hotels, coffee shops, restaurants and offices. The flap designs can also be customised to your business.PETBOT

The makers of this gadget call it the first smartphone for pets – and that it has ‘petificial intelligence’! While that may be an exaggeration, it’s a pretty cool device nonetheless. It’s designed for people who regularly leave pets at home while they’re away at work. Thanks to the built in camera, speaker and mic, you can check in on your pets remotely and even speak to them.

Pets can also send you video selfies while you’re at work – this action is triggered by a bark or a meow. It also has a container for little treats that you can dispense for training. Finally, if your pet gets anxious without you around, you can upload and play soothing music/sounds on the PetBot speaker. If you’re afraid that your pet might destroy PetBot, it can also be mounted on a wall. It connects via WiFi and you need to get the free iOS/Android app to start using the device.

Virtual reality and Augmented Reality were buzzwords at CES 2016. If you’ve experienced a VR headset (even something like Google Cardboard), you’ll know that it has the potential to digitally transport you away. But what if you want more control over your VR experience? One way is to use a joystick, mouse or keyboard — but it’s not the most intuitive. French company 3D Rudder says that in going digital, we lost the use of our feet. This circular board has sensitive, built in gyroscopes and pressure sensors. It is intended to be used while seated and has a USB interface for maximum compatibility. Place your feet on it and it precisely detects movement (forward, backward, strafe left/right, rotation) or up/down if you alternate pressing down with heel/toes.

Some of the applications include your own virtual tours, real estate showcase, gaming, 3D design/CAD and machine control (while your hands remain free to do other things).

At its most basic, CineMood is a portable video projector designed for children. After seeing this adorable, palm-sized device in action, it’s clear that it fills a void when it comes to entertainment and parent-child interaction.

Firstly, CineMood can turn any flat, white surface into a personal cinema. It has built in speakers and a battery that can power the device for up to 2 hours at a time. It can store your own curated list of cartoons or AV storybooks for your child to view at leisure. It is also cloud connected and wireless — you can get content from CineMood that is pre-filtered by age. As a parent, you can get the iOS/Android app and quickly send a video message directly to the projector, even from a remote location. The LED projection system is not too bright, doesn’t get hot (it uses passive cooling rather than fans) and can be used in any orientation.

ONAGOFLY

Drones don’t need to be very large, complicated or expensive. Take for example, the Indiegogo-funded Onagofly (which we have featured before in a spotlight). This is a lightweight (140 grams), palm-sized quadcopter with some features that you won’t find in other drones that cost five times as much. For instance, it has an infrared collision avoidance system — emitters and receivers on all four sides help it avoid obstacles like trees, pillars and wall while it automatically follows you around. The built in camera can record 1080p HD video or capture 15MP still images.

With the remote control app on your phone or tablet, you can connect to the drone’s WiFi signal to see a live feed from the camera. You can also control navigation, switch on/off the auto follow mode and instantly save photos/videos to your mobile device. It has a battery life of about 15 minutes.

GLANCE CLOCK

The smartphone is a major distraction for a lot of people. You’ll often hear of it being banned on the dinner table or people getting into fights over excessive use. The Glance Clock is a clever invention that helps you reduce smartphone use. In a way, you could compare it to a smartwatch, since it delivers notifications (who’s calling, SMS, alerts) and fitness data – except that it’s hung on your wall. Since it’s publicly viewable, it can also connect to smarthome devices and web services that can provide info for groups of people.

Inside the Glance Clock are two banks of multi-colour LEDs: one group that encircles the clock face and one group that forms a rectangular, scrolling LED display. There’s a free mobile app that helps you set up all your notifications and the beautiful animations (and sound) will catch your eye and deliver info to you at a glance.

ILY

The landline has pretty much disappeared from many homes. Many parents also like to limit the time that their children have with digital devices. However, communication between children and parents (or grandparents) can suffer as a result. The solution is the ILY Family phone, made by US-based company Insensi. It’s an always-on, always connected (Ethernet or WiFi) phone with multiple speakers, a large colour display and detachable wireless handset. It may look like a tablet that’s tacked on to a phone but it is actually purpose built for AV communication only. The parents can get the free app on their mobile phone to call the ILY and voice/video chat with their kids. Or the device could be placed with grandparents who may not be tech-savvy — using it is as easy as tapping the picture of the person on it.

Sponsored Stories

Subscribe To ETTelecom Newsletter

BSNL is yet to get the department of telecom (DoT) nod for commercially rolling out 4G services while the Narendra Modi-led government is eyeing to launch fifth-generation or 5G technology together with matured markets worldwide in 2020.